From the Principal

• PRAYER:  Prayers for our students and community  
• Welcome to Term 3
• Holiday Activities and Tours
• Your Building Fund in Action
• Special Achievements
• P&F TRIVIA NIGHT 2019:  Saturday 17 August at Chatswood
• Date Claimers & Upcoming Events

Prayer  

We pray this term for:

• Our Year 12 students who continue their studies and approach to the HSC Trials, Retreats, Graduation and HSC Exams. May we support them to maintain a studious sense of effective and calm focus.
• Our Year 11 students as they finalise their Preliminary HSC and begin their tenure of Leadership of the College and Final Year of School study.
• Our Year 10 students as they make decisions about their future and plan a path through their Senior School studies.
• Our Year 9 as they develop a sense of community and maturity in being and acting as “men for others” as they grow.
• Our Year 8 as they develop a sense of themselves and pride in their learning and efficacy.
• Our Year 7 as they grow from an important rite of passage at St Pius X and forge the friendships and responsibility which will enhance their connections and engagement with learning, place and purpose.
• Year 6 as they enhance their understanding of transition and development as leaders of the Junior School and journey through the school.
• Year 5 and they consolidate themselves within the fabric and ethos of St Pius X College and Edmund Rice Education more widely.
• We pray for those in our extended community who are unwell or in need of your intercession, support or guidance at this time.

Welcome to Term 3

I welcome back all staff and students for Term 3 and I must say the school has certainly started very well this week with our full attention to the boys and their learning, cultural pursuits and sporting honours in full preparation for the term.

In particular I wish to thank parents, students and staff for the successful parent/teacher day held on Friday 28 June. These were highly beneficial meetings and these will form the starting point for the students working from their reports and these discussions to develop goals for this Semester. The Semester 1 Academic Awards entitled “A Celebration of Learning” will be held on Friday 2 August in The Concourse at 11.15am.  Invitations will be extended to parents and carers of Award recipients.

I wish everyone a hardworking and rewarding term ahead.

Holiday Activities and Tours

During the Term 3 break there were many activities available to the students and I acknowledge and congratulate the following:

• The many classes and seminars held across Year 12 subjects during the holidays. Special thanks to staff and students.
• The inaugural Red Dirt Tour of 10 staff and 42 students to Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke.  Please see below a letter of thanks from St Ignatius School Bourke and a full report and photos of this expedition on the Pastoral Care page.

• The First XV Rugby on their Brisbane Rugby carnival winning 5 of their 6 matches making them Runners Up in the Senior Division.
• The First XI Football who were undefeated in their 4 games in the July Cup.
• The Junior School Prep Football who won 5 games and drew 1 in the Tamworth Carnival ranking them first ranked in their division.
• The Community Service of 24 Year 10 students at Belmore Catholic Care Sheltered Workshop in the final week of the holidays.

Your Building Fund in Action

Continuing to develop our school

Over the holiday break the school continued its further upgrade of its facilities and I thank the College Maintenance and Resources team and the contractors who completed work in a short time. In particular I highlight the following for your interest:

• Full canteen upgrade, largely funded by P & F Funds. 

• Senior Resource Centre and Library: following recent painting and new furniture, we have re-carpeted throughout and installed a new circulation desk and photocopy facility.

• B Block: following the installation of new windows during the Easter holidays, we have now painted throughout the building and replaced all the blinds and upgraded technology. We will re-carpet throughout in the next holidays.
• The Administration Building, Counselling and Learning Support areas have all been repainted and repairs conducted throughout which was a major exercise.
• Further routine maintenance and cleaning throughout Chatswood and Oxford Falls campuses.

We continue to redevelop the Chatswood campus, consistent with the feedback from surveys over the past few years. C Block will be the next major refurbishment during the Christmas holidays and I will communicate more details in coming weeks.

Special Achievements

During the holidays we were delighted to hear the great news of that Tom Hunt (Year 12) had won a Silver Medal for the U20 400m hurdles at the Oceania Athletics Championships.  Congratulations Tom.

We congratulate our St Pius X College Rugby Representatives from Years 6 to 9 who participated in the Coffs Coast Rugby Challenge in the recent holidays. The boys were Dylan Tait, Archie Harris and Bailey Yu from Year 6;  PJ Marren from Year 7; Nick Schuster and Nick Mirabelli from Year 8; and Tommy Marren from Year 9.

Solo vocalist Henrik Hogg (Year 8) competed in the City of Ryde Eisteddfod during the holidays, winning the Under 13 Sacred Solo Competition. He also competed in the Under 14 Vocal Section and received second place in the Under 13 Folk Solo.

TRIVIA NIGHT 2019:  Saturday 17 August 

Come and Join in the fun at this year's Trivia Night on Saturday 17 August in the Chatswood Gym.  Doors open at 6.15pm for 6.30pm Pre Trivia drinks.

All funds raised directly benefit the Performing Arts, Rugby, Cricket, Football, Basketball, Tennis and Robotics Clubs so please come along and support your son's Club.

Book your table by clicking on the try booking link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=531242&

Upcoming Events

Date Claimers:

• Friday 2 August:  Academic Awards Assembly
• Monday 5 August:  Trial HSC begins
• Wednesday 7 August:  Year 9 (2020) Subject Selection Information Night (Please see information on the Teaching & Learning Page) and Year 11 Snowy Hike 2019 Information Night
• Saturday 17 August:  P&F Trivia Night at Chatswood - please see the P&F page for details.

Please also refer to the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Newsletter for the 2019 College Calendar and Term Dates.   Information on how to download the College App is also included so you can stay up-to-date.

Draft Term Dates for 2020 are also available on this page.

Mr John Couani - Principal